The Illinois Central Railroad Historical Society is dedicated to preserving historical and educational information about the Illinois Central Railroad and the many predecessor railroads that have been part of the IC system. This headquarters feature a depot, museum and library.

The Outdoor Center Fields are located at First Street, spanning either side of Stadium Drive. Not just for students, but very welcoming to the general public! Reservations for special group outings must be made! Outdoor Center Fields Amenities four lighted football fields two lighted soccer fields three lighted sand volleyball courts three lighted basketball courts six lighted Tennis courts Outdoor Center facility with exterior drinking fountains, restrooms, and a meeting room.

Gordyville USA is a family-owned and operated establishment. The heated spacious building encompasses 160,000 square feet of space all under one roof. The multi-functional grounds are the site of several diverse events such as horse shows, flea markets, farm equipment sales, estate and land auctions, and the Annual Gifford Bank Craft Show. There is also a restaurant on the grounds.

The University of Illinois Fighting Illini play in the BIG10 Conference and have a diverse athletic department. Their many sports teams include: Men’s football, baseball, basketball, golf, soccer, tennis and wrestling, while their women’s teams include: Basketball, cross country, golf, gymnastics, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field and volleyball.

Quality is a simple bar with a big-city vibe that can only be described oxymoronically as "rustic modern." Quality offers a wide selection of American craft beers on tap and new beers are introduced every week.

Akademika Bed and Breakfast is located on Michigan Avenue, a prime location in Urbana with beautiful houses, cobblestone streets, and trees. Within a family neighborhood, Akademika offers amenities and a close location to campus, just one block from the southeast section of campus and a few minutes walking distance from the Main Quad and the Assembly Hall. This is a historic, quiet, safe and beautiful residential area with beautiful houses, cobblestone streets, and trees. Great for jogging!

Foellinger Auditorium is a unique facility situated at the Southern end of the U of I Quadrangle. Since its construction in 1907, Foellinger Auditorium has been a cultural and entertainment center for the campus by serving two distinctly different functions: classroom and performance.

The Parkland Theatre, a flexible proscenium theater with 315 seats, is the performance home for many Parkland theatrical, choral, and instrumental groups. The theater is also used by community organizations, speakers, guest professional artists, and theater classes.

The Country Inn & Suites Champaign North, offers guests stylish, modern rooms and impressive amenities including a Fitness Center with cardio equipment and weights, a large indoor pool perfect for swimming laps, a library filled with books to read, free Wi-Fi and a delicious complimentary breakfast buffet in the hotel's breakfast room. In Champaign, IL, you'll be close to all the attractions of downtown and the campus of the University of Illinois as well as excellent dining options that include Alexander's Steakhouse and Pita Pit. Book a spacious Standard Room for a good night's sleep or a Whirlpool Suite for a special occasion.

The midwest's premier woodworking destination is a haven for woodworkers. Their top-tier educational facility offers project and skill courses for all levels with classes running evenings, weekends and weekdays. The adjoining 8,000 square-foot supply store, open six days a week, is unique to Central Illinois and offers "all things woodworking" including 60 varieties of hardwoods. Free demos and seminars are available many Saturdays. Making the CU Woodshop even more of a destination is the DreamShop, where hobbyists can perfect their skill.

The Hyatt Place Champaign-Urbana is opening in 2014. This nine-story hotel features 3,200 square feet of meeting space and 145 well-appointed, modern guestrooms. The hotel is located in the vibrant heart of downtown Champaign, featuring 36 restaurants within a two block radius of the hotel. The eclectic dining scene is sure to provide you with numerous choices to dazzle your taste buds with their distinctive twists on worldly cuisine. The Official Hotel Partner of Fighting Illini Athletics, Hyatt Place is conveniently located in downtown Champaign, only minutes from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Campus.

Serving only the finest bar food available, Joe’s is the home of the Super Bird and a great place to grab some tasty wings or burgers, as well as the best fish sandwich you’ll find anywhere. Joe’s continues to provide a high energy atmosphere only available on a college campus as well as great food at a reasonable price. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

Join thousands of residents and visitors during Market season and connect with growers at Urbana's Market at the Square. Choose locally-raised foods and treasure-hunt among the art and craft vendor booths. Gather information about local non-profits, schools and other community groups on our Community Row. Catch up with friends, take in a set from local performers, and enjoy the public square atmosphere the Market has to offer. Saturday morning at Urbana's Market at the Square is one of our city’s signature institutions. It’s a great way to kick off your weekend! Open May through November.

Located in historic Lincoln Square Mall next to the Framer's Market, this store features all sorts of arts from paintings, sculptures, and pottery works. Stop in and just browse, or perhaps purchase one of these fine pieces of art.

Twin Groves Wind Farm features 240 turbines across 22,000 acres of land. The wind farm generates 396 megawatts of affordable, pollution-free wind energy, which is enough to meet the annual energy needs of about 120,000 homes. Learn more about this exciting new facility with a guided tour which begins at the Twin Groves Lookout Visitor Center.

In the heart of downtown Urbana, Lincoln Square offers places to eat, shop, work, relax, and do business with plenty of parking. One of the nation's first fully enclosed malls and home to the historic Lincoln Hotel, Lincoln Square of Urbana is building on it's great past and moving toward and even greater future.

Honoring the extraordinary achievements of Champaign County residents who have participated in the Olympic and Paralympic Games, this granite platform inscribed with the names of the athletes and the Olympic symbol is surrounded by playing fields, gardens and a community college campus. Tribute to Olympic Athletes rises from an ordinary prairie landscape transformed by playing fields, gardens and a community college campus.

An atmosphere of innovation at Illinois is based on a history of interdisciplinary exploration. Faculty and students pursue projects with other top scholars from around the world and across disciplines. Campus resources include the world’s largest public university library, outstanding centers for the arts, and many world-class research facilities, including the National Center for Supercomputing Applications. In 2003, Illinois’ faculty members won national and international awards including two Nobel Prizes, the Crafoord Prize in Biosciences, and two Guggenheim Fellowships. Students choose from more than 150 majors and 1100 clubs and organizations.

The staff at the Courtyard by Marriott is 100% focused on providing you with an exceptional level of customer service! Conveniently located near the University of Illinois and many great local attractions such as Market Place Mall, Memorial Stadium, Staerkel Planetarium and much more!

A total guest experience— It’s in the attention to detail: The stylishly distinctive aura and upscale room essentials. Innovative spaces and dining that’s a little classic, a little daring. The desire to exceed your expectations. The commitment to “wow.” It’s more than just a stay—it’s a multi-sensory, total guest experience. Welcome to the I Hotel.

An institution in Champaign County for over 40 years, Papa Del's is known for their deep dish pizza. Some argue the best south of I-80, many say the best in the state. University of Illinois students and alumni have clamored for Papa Del's since opening their doors in 1970, waiting the 45-minutes it takes for the dough to cook and the mass amounts of cheese to melt. Alumni all over the country have such an insatiable taste for their favorite pizza, that Papa Del's now ships up to 8 pizzas overnight anywhere in the country. As one Yelp reviewer says, it's "Legendary in every sense of the word."

Five generations ago the Murray family settled in Champaign County and continues the farming tradition still today. With an inherent appreciation for the beauty and rich history of this area, they are bringing modern American celebrations back to the farm. Pear Tree Estate is excited to share the rustic beauty of the country from the comfort of an elegant space. Pear Tree Estate offers a beautiful canvas inside and out for your special event to be completely unique and easily planned with an onsite coordinator, elegant lighting, linens and chairs. It is a culmination of the highest quality catering, service staff and now a premier venue to make any event memorable.

Located at the north end of Crystal Lake Park, this environmental education facility is a natural resource to individuals, families and groups interested in learning more about the outdoors. The Nature Center features four multi-purpose rooms, an exhibit field station, an Observation Room, the Audubon Nature Shop and an Educator Resource Room. The adjacent Busey Woods is perfect for hiking and bird watching.

The Orpheum Children's Museum, located in the 1914 Orpheum Theatre, is one of the finest buildings in central Illinois. Children of all ages are given the opportunity to learn science at their own pace in an informal setting.

The Holiday Inn Express is the newest hotel in LeRoy. The hotel is situated just off I-74 and only 15 minutes from the Central Illinois Regional Airport (BMI) in Bloomington-Normal. While staying in LeRoy, hotel guests have easy access to I-74, which makes visiting spots such as Moraine View State Park or Clinton Lake a breeze. The hotel offers a 24-hour business center, free high-speed Internet access, complimentary Express Start hot breakfast bar, indoor pool and state-of-the-art fitness center.

The quintessential cocktail lounge of the Champaign-Urbana community. Located in the heart of downtown Champaign, Boltini offers a great selection of liquor, food, entertainment and fun. It's very welcoming to any and everybody from the downtown hipster to the professional enjoying a happy hour cocktail and everybody in between.

Memorial Stadium, home to Fighting Illini Football, seating 60,670, was built in 1923 as a memorial to Illinois men and women who gave their lives for their country during World War I. Their names appear on 200 columns that support the east and west sides of the stadium. For the 2013 season, a new high-definition video display measuring 36 feet tall by 96 feet wide was installed in the south horseshoe.

Big Grove Tavern is a Farm-to-Table restaurant in downtown Champaign featuring seasonal comfort food. Almost everything we serve at Big Grove Tavern is made from scratch, in house, using seasonal ingredients, sourced locally whenever possible. We source locally, not only to create delicious dishes, but to help support our neighbors.

Marketplace Shopping Center offers all of the big names from larger cities, but without the long wait lines! Shop everything from the Gap, Limited, and Banana Republic, to Sephora, Finish Line and Eddie Baur. Complete with four anchor department stores, this shopping center also offers a varied food court, multiple restaurants, and even a carousel for the little ones.

Pekara Bakery & Bistro is a clean label artisan bakery in downtown Champaign serving the community since 2005. Pekara prides itself on delicious handmade pastries, cakes, and breads in which all-natural ingredients are used. From omelettes made from local, organic eggs, breakfast sandwiches and bagels, savory sandwiches on artisan breads, salads, crêpes, and hearty soups, to sweet pastries, pies, and cookies, you can find most anything you'd like at Pekara. Pekara's well-trained baristas serve up superb coffee that has been responsibly sourced and harvested from Abakundakawa, the certified Fair Trade cooperative in Rwanda where the heart of our house blend is grown. Pekara Bakery & Bistro even helps you stay ahead for that special event, baking pastries, baklava, breads and other treats for those special occasions.

The landmark Busey’s Hall/Princess Theater in downtown Urbana is home to Cinema Gallery, representing over 50 professional artists of the Midwest. Media on display are ceramics, drawings, glass, mixed media, paintings, sculpture, and studio furniture. The gallery also hosts 7 special shows each year.

Sangamon River Forest Preserve, a 160-acre gem, offers a variety of natural features and is ideal for low-impact activities such as picnicking, bird-watching, hiking and river fishing. The preserve hosts the Lincoln Ash Tree, one of the largest ash trees in the state.

Wyldewood Cellars Winery is one of the largest and acclaimed wineries in the Mid-West. Wyldewood Cellar's - St. Joseph - is the latest in addition to the Wyldewood Family of Wineries. All our locations offer free wine tastings and samples of our delicious jellies and fudge. Family owned since 1995, Wyldewood Cellars takes pride in offering quality wines at an affordable price.

The 275-acre River Bend Forest Preserve south of Mahomet contains approximately 130 acres of clear water in two lakes, one of which is the largest public lake in Champaign County, and includes 2.5 miles of forest along the Sangamon River.

The University of Illinois is a world leader in research, teaching and public engagement. It's distinguished by the breadth of their programs, broad academic excellence and internationally renowned faculty. This Big Ten school offers rich experiences beyond the classroom from the best in performing arts to world-class sports. Discover the scenic campus through tours of the historic buildings and those that are pushing the envelope in technology.

The Art Theater is located in the heart of Downtown Champaign and has been entertaining moviegoers since 1913. A true historical fixture, the Art Theater screens independent films and serves up locally grown popcorn, baked goods from local bakeries and a great selection of wines, beers, soda and more!

Lake of the Woods County Park is a 900-acre preserve that features an 18-hole regulation golf course, a 9-hole par 3 course and practice range, fishing, boating, hiking, picnicking, cross-country skiing, sledding the Hi-Tower bell carillon and observation area, a 3.3 mile bicycle/pedestrian path, the Museum of the Grand Prairie, Mabery Gelvin Botanical Gardens, building rentals and various programs.

Since 1921, The Virginia Theater has been a landmark in the business district of Champaign and in the history of the region. For 75 years, the 1,525 seat theater has offered entertainment as a vaudeville house, legitimate theater, and movie house. The historic theater plays host to Roger Ebert’s Ebertfest Film Festival every spring.

The Wandell Sculpture Garden was established in honor of Willett and Celia Wandell in 1998. This unique, free outdoor sculpture garden sits among 22 acres of recreated Illinois tallgrass prairie in 130-acre Meadowbrook Park. While walking the looped paths, one can encounter bikers, joggers and other sculpture lovers as the park serves both recreational and educational purposes. Works from local artists with ties to the University of Illinois grace the garden, as well as pieces from artists who reside in New York, California and New Mexico. The garden has both permanent sculptures and some that are rotated every second or third year, keeping it fresh for visitors. Open daily from dawn to dusk.

The University of Illinois Pollinitarium is the first free-standing science center in the nation devoted to flowering plants and their pollinators. Its location in the midst of the Arboretum brings together flowers and pollinators physically and conceptually. Changing exhibits relate to world events and ongoing research on pollinators. Guests can explore beekeeping equipment, see live demonstrations and play interactive games. Because so much depends on pollination, the UI Pollinatarium is dedicated to increasing awareness and appreciation of pollination as a remarkable ecological partnership and an essential ecosystem service.

Recently renovated, the Eastland Suites Hotel & Conference Center is very welcoming to all guests -- either travelers or meeting planners in the area. Eastland also provides an excellent conference center to provide for group meetings. Centrally located just on the outskirts of Urbana, the Eastland Suites sits off of Interstate 74 on Cunningham Avenue, and just a few seconds' drive from the University of Illinois campus. Eastland Suites is nearby to Route 45 that takes you straight into Rantoul, and right next to Camp Rantoul (home of Fighting Illini football), and the Rantoul Aquatic Center, also recently renovated.

Since its inception in 2002, Prairie Fire Glass has delighted visitors with the mesmerizing art of traditional glassblowing. Featuring a gallery in the front of the store and a working studio in the back, you can peruse original art glass creations while enjoying live glassblowing demonstrations.

What Lincoln Center is to New Yourk and Kennedy Center is to Washington D.C., Krannert Center is to the Midwest—a magnificent showcase for the performing arts. KCPA is a premier educational and professional performing arts complex and is the setting for over 300 performances each year. A professional laboratory for the University of Illinois dance, theatre, opera and music departments, the Center also hosts internationally famous artists such as Emmy Lou Harris, Herbie Hancock, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Mark Morris Dance Group, and is home to the Champaign-Urbana Symphony and Sinfonia de Camera.

The State Farm Center™, formerly the University of Illinois Assembly Hall, is one of the two largest edge-supported domes in the world. More than half a million people annually attend events at the center. The 16,000 plus seat venue regularly accommodates Broadway shows, musicals and major concert performers.

The Chanute Air Museum celebrates the 76 year legacy of the former Chanute Air Force base and the development Illinois aviation. The Museum showcases over 30 aircraft, including a rare P-51H Mustang and XB-47 Stratojet, while exhibits include "Life at Chanute" and "The 99th Pursuit Squadron: From Rantoul to Ramitelli and Beyond." Bus parking and a gift shop are available.

Alto Vineyards' retail wine shop and tasting room offers custom gift baskets, gourmet foods and local artwork. Indoor and outdoor seating offers a place to relax with a glass of Alto's finest. Alto's original location is situated in Alto Pass, on the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail.

Prairie Farm features traditional farm animals such as sheep, pigs, horses, cows, goats, chickens, ducks and geese. Visitors are welcome to pet the farm’s animals in the petting area. Kids both young and old will enjoy crossing the footbridge that spans the farm’s miniature duck pond. Prairie Farm also offers educational programs and private party services. Open Memorial Day through Labor Day; Hours: Daily 1:00–7:00 p.m.; Free! (fee for trolley ride and some programs)

Fun for the whole family! Highlights include two amazing water slides that splash down into 350,000 gallons of crystal clear water. The zero-depth entry pool also features water toys for children, lanes for swimmers, and diving boards. The 14,000 square foot facility also has a full bath house with accessible restrooms and changing rooms, along with a full-service concession stand, shaded and open lounge areas, picnic tables and much more.

Located on the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign campus, Krannert Art Museum is the second-largest fine art museum in Illinois—placing it among the top tier of university art museums nationwide. The museum’s diverse permanent collection contains over 10,000 works of art, and represents the cultures of African, Asia, Europe and the Americas. In addition to its permanent collection, the museum features outstanding temporary exhibitions throughout the year.

Japan House offers the public an opportunity to learn about traditional Japanese culture through tea ceremonies, workshops and special events through the year. The beautiful Japan House gardens are open from dawn to dusk for you to stroll through and enjoy. The Japan House closes during the summer. Call for information on tea ceremonies and tours.

Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery is Illinois’ first farmstead cheese making facility, founded in 2004. Visit this off the beaten path farm and learn about their cheese-making process and their “Animal Welfare Approved” Goat Dairy. Taste their delicious, award winning varieties of goat cheese and sample their amazing goat milk gelato and organic fruits. The farm is open weekdays for drop-in visitors to see the goats, walk the grounds and purchase farm products. During the summer, you can also visit the farm during Wednesday afternoon open houses. In addition to self-guided tours of the farm, you can get gelato by the scoop and purchase products from their farm as well as those from other farms and food artisans. Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery also offers additional food events in the summer with Dinners on the Farm, Third Friday Pop-Ups, and tasting trail events. This is a working farm, so check their website for hours and activities before venturing out to the farm.

The University of Illinois Arboretum is a living laboratory, including plant collections and facilities that support the teaching, research and public service programs of several units throughout campus. Central to the Arboretum was the development of the "All American Selection Trial Gardens" established by a bequest from Miles C. Hartley in the early 90s. Other highlights of the Arboretum include the Welcome Garden, Hosta Garden, Kari Walkway and native ponds plantings, the Idea Garden, sponsored by Champaign County Master Gardeners, and the Japanese Tea and Dry Gardens at the Japan House.

Discover the universe at the second largest planetarium in Illinois, the William M. Staerkel Planetarium, located on the campus of Parkland College. With a state-of-the-art digital projection system, visitors can learn about the stars, planets and more in this cutting-edge environment. At the planetarium website, you will learn of special programs and features coinciding with the many events in our universe. Public shows are on most Friday and Saturday nights, as well as summer matinees.

Allerton Park was the private estate of Robert Henry Allerton, who donated it to the University of Illinois in 1946. It features 1,500 acres of woodlands, formal gardens and more than 100 sculptures. The park is open to the public for hiking, picnicking, cross-country skiing and leisurely garden strolls.

The North Pole has moved to Central Illinois. Try your luck at the 6+ acre corn maze, the Grand Prix style race track, pick a pumpkin or a Christmas tree (depending on season), stop by the fascinating gift shop and, of course, see the reindeer!

Located in downtown Champaign, Blind Pig brews its own craft beers. With its beautiful wood interior, casks full of local brews and friendly locals, this bar is a must-see. When the weather is nice, venture outside and enjoy the large outdoor beer garden.